📣 They said WHAT about Pittsburgh?!

US Steel Pays Up for Pollution

U.S. Steel reached a $42 million settlement with Allegheny County, Clean Air Council, and PennEnvironment for the 2018 Clairton coke works fire that disabled pollution controls for months. This is the largest settlement of a Clean Air Act citizen’s suit ever in Pennsylvania. It includes the closure of one of the plant’s coke batteries, $19.5 million in upgrades to its coke oven gas cleaning facilities, and $4.5 million for locals impacted by the fire. [The Allegheny Front]

Footage of Jim Rogers’ Arrest Released

After getting permission from a federal judge, Todd Hollis Law released video of the 2021 arrest of Jim Rogers, 54, who died in a hospital one day after Pittsburgh Police repeatedly shocked him with a Taser. Pittsburgh settled the $8 million suit, five officers were fired, and four were suspended. [90.5 WESA]

• 📣 Mayor Gainey’s office responded to the footage release by sharing procedural improvements that have been implemented since the arrest, such summoning EMS to respond every time a Taser is deployed and training officers on the “duty to intervene.” [City of Pittsburgh]

Allegheny Named River of the Year

Get your water shoes ready, neighbors! The Allegheny River is receiving a $10,000 grant for river activities later this year in celebration of winning the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ annual River of the Year award. Of the 20,259 votes cast, the Allegheny got 8,307, beating the Youghiogheny and Lackawaxen Rivers. [TribLIVE]

SNAP Enrollment Hits Record High

Despite a low unemployment rate, Pennsylvania’s SNAP food assistance program reached record high participation in October and November — 2 million participants compared to roughly 1.7 million prior to the pandemic. According to Just Harvest, this could be a sign that wages aren’t keeping up with inflation. [90.5 WESA]

• 📣 Need assistance? Listen to our news roundup to learn more. [City Cast Pittsburgh]

Avid City Cast Pittsburgh listener Catherine M. wrote in to let us know that the Mon Incline closure is impacting businesses on Shiloh Street — like Gordo’s Tacos, Shiloh Gastro, and more. The incline is expected to reopen on February 9, but how about we show these Mt. Washington businesses a little extra love in the meantime?

📍This neighborhood guide to Mt. Washington is a great place to start!

📩 My inbox is always open for tips, Pittsburgh hot takes, and anything you want to share with your neighbors.

The thing about us Pittsburghers is that we LOVE our city, but we’re also not afraid to point out its problems. It’s like the way we call people jagoffs – but in an affectionate way.

And we’re not alone. Local writer Virginia Montanez rounded up some of the funniest and most creative insults lobbed at Pittsburgh over two centuries. She joins us to share her favorites and explain why our city drew so much ire from outside writers, newsmakers, and prominent figures.